

Sensei Barb
- Aug 16, 2020
A personal note: update
Now that I am three weeks post transplant, I wanted to give you a quick update. The surgery went very well. My new kidney is working...


Sensei Barb
- Jun 26, 2020
A personal note
As a Sensei, my blog entries are typically themed around observations about my experience in the dojo. This entry is different. I wanted...


Sensei Barb
- Apr 6, 2018
Why compete?
In the weeks prior to our tournament, our classes are focused on presentation skills so that students know how to prepare and plan for the e


Sensei Barb
- Sep 20, 2017
The fallacy of self-defense
In the 15 years that I have been teaching self-defense, I estimate that I've taught over 1000 individuals. In that time, my approach to...


Sensei Barb
- May 29, 2017
The business of karate
Recently, I came across an old goju-ryu karate manual that was published in 1982. The author was a Canadian man; a Nidan who had trained...


Sensei Barb
- Mar 10, 2016
A piece of cloth
Before I started on my karate path, I remember having the idea that Black Belts were Masters of Martial Arts. Of course, once I met my...


Sensei Barb
- Apr 10, 2015
Kumite: The art of sparring
The secrets of karate are found in its kata. By practicing a system of self-defence principles through repeating different iterations, we...


Sensei Barb
- Apr 23, 2013
Karate: A love story
When I talk to my karate friends about why they started training, it seems that there are a handful of reasons why people start training:...


Mike Robertson
- Mar 9, 2013
Karate: My Way
Kyoshi Mike Robertson reflects on his introduction to karate after 30 years of training.